I am not surprised. You may be the only human who - at least in recent history - has shown her any kindness.Originally Posted by Callista
I talked to the neighbor's landlord. Apparently, the landlord had just evicted my neighbor for not paying his rent since April of this year, and the entire house was crawling with fleas and filthy. Before the last couple of years, he was a good tenant and the house was clean; but then his cousin came to stay and, apparently, he began drinking heavily. All downhill from there.
The landlord also said that Olivia had been living there for at least five years, so now we have an approximate age for her.
Olivia takes her medicine well and uses the litter box, though she misses the box sometimes by hanging her butt over the edge. She can have a bigger box or maybe a covered one once we get her out of that crate.
Every morning and evening I let her out and give her her antibiotic, and then I sit down on the porch floor and cuddle her for a half hour. When she sits down on my lap I can feel the heat coming from her back legs and stomach, where the skin is still badly inflamed. This morning the back of her neck was healed enough for a flea treatment, so she got that.
This afternoon as I was cuddling her, she stopped rubbing her head against me and looked up at me, then very slowly and deliberately put her paw on my chest.
I know that move. I've only ever seen it in a cat that has decided to trust me. Apparently Olivia has decided exactly this.
I confirmed that when a few moments later, she stopped her rubbing and stepped out of my lap to get a few mouthfuls of food, apparently having gotten the point that she did not have to be insistently affectionate for me to pay attention to her. Then she climbed back into my lap, experiment concluded. I had indeed not vanished, and I think she was satisfied.
As soon as I can figure out whether she will spread fleas if taken into the main part of my apartment, I will take her crate inside so I can talk to her when I'm at home, and so the others can get used to the idea that there is another cat here now.
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I think my neighbor just dumped his cat.
- Thread starter callista
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I got goosebumps reading your final email. There's nothing more touching to me than the bond between an abused/neglected/abandoned/otherwise mistreated animal and her savior.
5? Bless her heart, she looks so tiny...
5? Bless her heart, she looks so tiny...
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There's a special level of hell for anyone who would dump such a sweet cuddly cat. I'm sure of it.
for progress on the flea issue, and for continued improvement and for the lumps to turn out to be manageable.
The paw thing sounds like she was saying, "Wait here, I'll be right back." Sounds like she is one lucky kitty & that she is thankful that you have saved her.
*happy cry* Oh sweetie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How's Olivia doing now?
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Olivia is doing rather well, all things considered. She is quieter now, doesn't cry constantly anymore, and doesn't act so desperate. I really hope it is a calm quiet and not a sick/tired quiet, but since she spends time sitting in a compact bundle, looking out instead of lying down looking exhausted, I'm hopeful. I still can't entice her to play.
She doesn't have any more fleas, and her skin is healing in most places. I don't know whether she's putting on any weight, but she is still eating well, especially now that I'm working on fattening her up a bit with wet kitten food and a little bit of KMR for treats, in addition to the dry food. She finished her antibiotics today. Tiny and Christy have been coming up to her crate to see what she's up to, and have stopped outright hissing, so introductions are going well.
The annoying thing, though, is that she's still in quarantine. There are spots on her back legs and belly that aren't healing as well as the fleabitten areas, and I think I know why: I got ringworm on my leg a few days ago, where she had been lap-sitting, so it may make sense to check her for it too, as I live alone and haven't set foot in a locker room or other such area in a while, so she is the most likely source even though she isn't a kitten. As annoying as it is, I'd rather have discovered it this way than if Tiny or Christy had gotten it. You can't put over-the-counter athlete's foot cream on a cat! I'm not sure if the rescue can afford another vet's visit so soon; but if not, I can probably get my vet to look at her. Still waiting to hear back on that.
She doesn't have any more fleas, and her skin is healing in most places. I don't know whether she's putting on any weight, but she is still eating well, especially now that I'm working on fattening her up a bit with wet kitten food and a little bit of KMR for treats, in addition to the dry food. She finished her antibiotics today. Tiny and Christy have been coming up to her crate to see what she's up to, and have stopped outright hissing, so introductions are going well.
The annoying thing, though, is that she's still in quarantine. There are spots on her back legs and belly that aren't healing as well as the fleabitten areas, and I think I know why: I got ringworm on my leg a few days ago, where she had been lap-sitting, so it may make sense to check her for it too, as I live alone and haven't set foot in a locker room or other such area in a while, so she is the most likely source even though she isn't a kitten. As annoying as it is, I'd rather have discovered it this way than if Tiny or Christy had gotten it. You can't put over-the-counter athlete's foot cream on a cat! I'm not sure if the rescue can afford another vet's visit so soon; but if not, I can probably get my vet to look at her. Still waiting to hear back on that.
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Olivia: "Quarantine crates suck!"
You can see how she is looking better along her back and shoulders, but that spot on her leg and several more like it really still look bad. I think she's gaining weight, though.
You can just see along the side of the crate where I've attached a covered litter box to the open door, so I don't have to squeeze a box into the crate with her. Yay for duct tape!
Uh... and the crate is bigger than it looks. It's comfortably large enough for a medium-sized dog, actually. Not that this makes me any happier about her being in it so much. I've taken to letting her out into the kitchen for a walk round and some snuggles, and mopping with bleach water afterward. I figure if bleach won't kill whatever it is, nothing will.
You can see how she is looking better along her back and shoulders, but that spot on her leg and several more like it really still look bad. I think she's gaining weight, though.
You can just see along the side of the crate where I've attached a covered litter box to the open door, so I don't have to squeeze a box into the crate with her. Yay for duct tape!
Uh... and the crate is bigger than it looks. It's comfortably large enough for a medium-sized dog, actually. Not that this makes me any happier about her being in it so much. I've taken to letting her out into the kitchen for a walk round and some snuggles, and mopping with bleach water afterward. I figure if bleach won't kill whatever it is, nothing will.
While a crate isn't the ideal situation for a cat, but until she heals and is no longer contageous it's unavoidable, and many times better than what your former neighbor had for her. It could just be being confined that has her acting so subdued, although she may have spent her life in such serious conditions that she's forgotten how to relax and play. My old guy who was apparantly dumped from a long time home when his owner died, almost never plays. Every so often he'll kick up his heels a bit, and it's hard not to laugh at this dignified giant pouncing on shadows!
That poor kitty, the spot on her side! How could he have let her get so bad? If I couldn't afford treat a cat, I would at least have it PTS.
It isn't just kittens that get ringworm, although she may have had it since she was one. I've been bad for petting any critter friendly enough to permit it since I was a kid, and have gotten it a few times. My Mom always predicted I would be bitten by a rabid one and die horribly.
That poor kitty, the spot on her side! How could he have let her get so bad? If I couldn't afford treat a cat, I would at least have it PTS.
It isn't just kittens that get ringworm, although she may have had it since she was one. I've been bad for petting any critter friendly enough to permit it since I was a kid, and have gotten it a few times. My Mom always predicted I would be bitten by a rabid one and die horribly.
I think given her poor condition & all the open sores from the fleas, it would be no big supprise for her to have ring worm. The poor thing has been so run down, her poor little system probably can't fight anything off. I'm sure under your care she will soon be fully recovered.
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My Dear Friend
All cat's problems are treatable. If she has fleas u can shower her with an anti-flea shampoo or use the product that's put on the neck of the cat. Believe me, if you treat her and keep her, God will bless your cats even more. All cats are angels and need a home. God will reward you a lot if you keep her. But please, try to quarantine her in a big crate with enough food and water and the litterbox until she recovers completely, then start to make her friendly with your cats. They will all love one another soon, I am sure. It's true that cats are territorial but they are also very sensitive and they have pity on poor cats. Also try to call her master, maybe he will take her. If not, keep her and believe me, you may find in her something different than the cats you have. She may be more friendly or more playful. May God bless you for everything good you will do for her.
All cat's problems are treatable. If she has fleas u can shower her with an anti-flea shampoo or use the product that's put on the neck of the cat. Believe me, if you treat her and keep her, God will bless your cats even more. All cats are angels and need a home. God will reward you a lot if you keep her. But please, try to quarantine her in a big crate with enough food and water and the litterbox until she recovers completely, then start to make her friendly with your cats. They will all love one another soon, I am sure. It's true that cats are territorial but they are also very sensitive and they have pity on poor cats. Also try to call her master, maybe he will take her. If not, keep her and believe me, you may find in her something different than the cats you have. She may be more friendly or more playful. May God bless you for everything good you will do for her.
Ring worm on top of it all, poor baby!
I know you're not happy about the crate - but it is literally saving her life - and making her life with you possible! So that's a happy thought. And she'll be healed up and out soon enough.
How's it going with the ring worm?
I know you're not happy about the crate - but it is literally saving her life - and making her life with you possible! So that's a happy thought. And she'll be healed up and out soon enough.
How's it going with the ring worm?
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She has gained almost a pound since her first vet visit! She is now just over seven pounds, still skin and bones but looking better.
Apparently some fleas actually survived the Capstar/Frontline double-whammy, so she got another flea treatment.
They say she is missing so much fur they don't know where to test for ringworm. There are pills she is supposed to get but the rescue lady still has them. She may be healthy enough to stay at the rescue with the other cats soon, but if she continues to have medical problems I will keep fostering. It really depends. There are still kittens and there are always sick cats that need fostering.
At this point it is just a matter of waiting for her to regain her health enough for a spay/biopsy.
I have blocked up my little kitchen area with a piece of plywood, so she has the run of the kitchen instead of being locked in a dog crate. I figure I will just clean with bleach and hope nothing spreads. I couldn't keep her locked up any longer, or she might have started suffering from it.
She has found a cardboard box of which she is very fond, so I put a blanket in it, and now she spends a great deal of time there. She has a bad habit of climbing on counters, but then, if that is the worst of it, her behavior is nearly perfect! She doesn't claw things, and she uses the litter box perfectly. And whenever I walk near the kitchen and snuggle her, she gets out the same old motorcycle purr we have heard from her ever since I gave the first bowl of food to a crying cat on the back lawn...
Apparently some fleas actually survived the Capstar/Frontline double-whammy, so she got another flea treatment.
They say she is missing so much fur they don't know where to test for ringworm. There are pills she is supposed to get but the rescue lady still has them. She may be healthy enough to stay at the rescue with the other cats soon, but if she continues to have medical problems I will keep fostering. It really depends. There are still kittens and there are always sick cats that need fostering.
At this point it is just a matter of waiting for her to regain her health enough for a spay/biopsy.
I have blocked up my little kitchen area with a piece of plywood, so she has the run of the kitchen instead of being locked in a dog crate. I figure I will just clean with bleach and hope nothing spreads. I couldn't keep her locked up any longer, or she might have started suffering from it.
She has found a cardboard box of which she is very fond, so I put a blanket in it, and now she spends a great deal of time there. She has a bad habit of climbing on counters, but then, if that is the worst of it, her behavior is nearly perfect! She doesn't claw things, and she uses the litter box perfectly. And whenever I walk near the kitchen and snuggle her, she gets out the same old motorcycle purr we have heard from her ever since I gave the first bowl of food to a crying cat on the back lawn...
Bless you! I'm sorry to hear about the ring worm. So is the idea just to treat her for it? Sounds like a reasonable idea - I mean - where else would you have gotten it?
Continued for this beautiful baby girl!
Continued for this beautiful baby girl!
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The coolest thing happened today. I was taking away a paper plate that she'd licked clean of kitten food, and suddenly she rolled over on her side and grabbed at the plate with her paws. I figured she was trying to take it back and explained to her that she'd eaten all the food; but then she rolled over on her back and started rabbit-kicking the plate! I wiggled it round a little, and sure enough, she started batting at the paper plate.
Conclusion: Livvy is playing!!
She hasn't done that since she got here. I enticed her with the most enticing dangles and jingles and she just looked annoyed and went back to licking herself. But now? She seems to think just about anything is a toy.
I found her playing with an old Q-tip from the trash can this morning. Of course I had to sacrifice some new Q-tips and a half hour of supervision when I saw that.
Conclusion: Livvy is playing!!
She hasn't done that since she got here. I enticed her with the most enticing dangles and jingles and she just looked annoyed and went back to licking herself. But now? She seems to think just about anything is a toy.
I found her playing with an old Q-tip from the trash can this morning. Of course I had to sacrifice some new Q-tips and a half hour of supervision when I saw that.
Yay! That is the best news I've seen all day, and my day started ridiculously early!
She must be feeling lots beter if she's playing.
Wonderful news....thats how I know when my cats are on the mend...they groom themselves and they play....Still a shame about the start she got...hopefully she will have a great forever home ..
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Photographic proof! Sorry, it's blurry, but yes, here she is trying to get the little ball out of the kitty racetrack toy thingy...
Actually, she has been extraordinarily active. That ribbon she wouldn't pounce on? She pounced on it. The ball she wouldn't chase? Batted it. And I've found her on top of the refrigerator--no kidding! Tiny and Christy never do that.
And yes, she is lying on carpet. I'm letting her out of the kitchen periodically now. I guess I'm just a sucker for a soft little paw.
Actually, she has been extraordinarily active. That ribbon she wouldn't pounce on? She pounced on it. The ball she wouldn't chase? Batted it. And I've found her on top of the refrigerator--no kidding! Tiny and Christy never do that.
And yes, she is lying on carpet. I'm letting her out of the kitchen periodically now. I guess I'm just a sucker for a soft little paw.
